Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-17
,hst gave MIR. John Geddes very great
satisfaction.
CHAPTER III.
"Tho bridegroom hc spake nc.st,
And he spako up wi pride
fTwrs no for gow'd or goar
-. L q. I. c..

Tho bridegroom nc spnfe nest,
And no spako up wi pride
'Twss no for gow'd or gcar
fought you for my ee."-Song.
When John Geddes left Percy Lodge
he walked little briskcr than when ne
len the Snooks. In his breast were
multitude Of thoughts, chief OF which
wss n notion that be was a downright
fool ever 10 think of wife. Better a
thousand times old Peggy, with her
wailing voice and everlasting prophe-
cies of coming evil, than the misfor-
time Of a wife like Miss Bella
Banks. What a temper she had
How her eyes had glare6 And,
above ell other things, what
nerfect cheat che was altogether A
eirll Not remember thirty-fye years
seo! Pooh And John fairly laughed
Good naturedly, rejoicing in his free
dom. Then John remembered the loss
Of bis money. Old Peggy never dealt
in rsffle.tickets, and had never yet
cheated him ont OF e. fs. Sd. Peggy
was best. I'll pay her back, though.
I'll tell her age a. over the parish,
said John as he walked along, and
every now and again thought dismally
of lis simplicity.
When his sister Janet had been espe-
cially icy ard smooth, which for her
meant thorough bad temper. John had
always found refuge in the pipe OF
peace. John had his pipe, but he had
no light, for his Sunday suit had not
his usual everyday pockets, with their
conyepiences; so John determined to
call in at Creenknowe, which was half
road house, and light his pipe. Green
| knowe was the abode OF Tam Edgar,
vood-forester. an old friend of Johns.
Tam Edgar had not, like John re-
nlaincd in single blessedness. before
be was twenty he had married, and
had now a goodly family of eleven lads
ard lassies.
It YVES impossible to pass Greenknowe
unobservcd by any of them, for some
white haired young ones were always
on Tie outlook. Therefore, whenever
John was in sight OF Greenknowe his
coming was observed, and IA whitehead
roart mat the door :
"John O Bently Brao's coming up
the road. y ., -,
"1he very nan want to see, SAID
Mrs. Edgar, rs she slowly took her way
10 the side of the house and watched
John Gcddes, now joined by two white
heads, coming along the road in the
cleaning.
Il was wondering if ye were gam
70 Gle MS n ca, John," Mrs. Edgar said
slowly. as was her usual style OF speak
ing. Her voice was clear and strong,
with a CHEEKY ring in it, and her face
was & welcome in itself. Tam Edgar
had had his senses when he chose his
wife at nineteen.
Whatever bad temper John Geddcs
had been in coming along the road blew
away with the soft October wind, and
he felt quite lightsome as he answered
Owed, ] didna intend coming IN
enocn. i ken we're gey thrang, but
want to licLt my pipe. fell no oo-
joct?"
List to him. Obiectl" laughed
Mrs.. dgar. - wadna need to OBJECT
muclle to smoking in DOR house, vi
nv ftyther, an OOr man, and inc
tailor thrang at it the moo, athegtneT
ike a wheen engine lums. but WHIT 1
WAITED ye for, John, is to look at ooi
COO the broom ane-the guldman
boupht frae Bate White. 1t has fa'en
III. and Tam was gaun the NIGHT to
Rirly Prae to see the horse doctor
oLcot il An deed, said / to him,
what woy ken We no gang up the
water for John Geddes.' There's no
man has mair skill o beasts than yer
sell. John but cor Tam Is sac blate
he thouehtye michtna care to be iasneo
ABBOTT it..
Tam medina been feared to asl
help frae an auld frcn'. Ill dae VIVA
| can for the beast Where ha'
YETI" 49,
Mrs. Edgar and John Geddes thei
slowly went towards the byre, watched
bv some faces at Greenknowe kltcHeI
I window. For in Greenknowe was ont
of the "broken hearts "a sister o
Mrs. Fdcar's. Not that her heart wa
altogether broken, or that there wa
any look of disappointment about Grac
Deans: no. her nature was too cheer.
for that. But when John Geddes ha'
! ceased his attentions, and she saw plainl
that he Lad only been amusing himsei
with her love, poor Grace had tel
? deeply wounded, though she never san
t it: and that WAS years before. An
now people would not forget the TACT
E but the young folks would consider
still n good Joke to tease poor urac
about John Geddes.
eff they would only forget, though
moor Grace, as she saw the tailor an
1 the long apprentice look over to tn
4 dressmaker and her young niece Mac
ole. and the whole four every now an
D again look to see how she was takin
. the news. 1t was no wonder 81
blushed.
e Greenknowe was in a great state
), hustle and preparation, for the elde'
n daughter was to be married III wee
Il to the Birly-Brae postman, and th'
: was considered a grand wedding an'
= being the first wedding IN the family
a q great event.
o The brides energies being all take
d ND bv the sewing oil her " Draws
3 Auntie Grizzy had to come down an
help Eer sister to get through with u
g work. And then Aunt Grlzzy had
hiring auld grandfather-for he cou
II not be left alone, and was as anxlo'
~ as any one to see the wedding put b
I For Grace Deans and her father live
. in a small cottage near Bently Bra
% and auld grandfather had been a 70
% ester. too, in his time, though he cou
Il only Judge now of the trees and n
N not the strength to fell them. u
20 Grandfather was as light-hearted as
II boy for all that, and was sitting VIII
lie John went to the byre at the flresi
n with lis red handkerchief spread ov
IF bis knees laughing at race bet|e
le the tailor and the dressmaker.
q The lads-threc school-boys-we
nrpipg the tailor on and siding wi
G him. while two girls threaded needl
N and handed pins, and held tn
" "Jeanie Welsh" would win y
y. Grace Deans went back and forwar
n tidying up and helping every one in b
N ouiet. CHEEKY way, but wishing IN h
a heart that John Geddes had not cor
~ IN she was away. But there was
% use in wishing, for John and her sist
n came in both more taken up by t
sorrows of the COW than the sorr'
10 Johns thoughtless behavior had CIV
her so Grace smiled and nodded, a